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Celebrate Halloween safely

To keep Halloween a safe and fun holiday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) is offering tips and tricks to keep loved ones safe and to prevent the spread of COVID-19. “Because many of our young Michiganders are not yet eligible to be vaccinated, we urge everyone to take precautions to participate safely,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, chief medical executive. “There are still ways to celebrate safely, and the MDHHS guidance provides tips for trick-or-treaters and their parents along with homeowners who wish to pass out treats.” Tips for all persons ...

Precautions needed after deadly mosquito-borne illness detected in bird

The Marquette County Health Department recently released an alarming announcement that all residents of the region need know about: A ruffed grouse in Marquette County has tested positive for Eastern Equine Encephalitis, one of the most dangerous mosquito-borne illnesses in the U.S. Infection by the virus that causes Eastern Equine Encephalitis in people and animals occurs through the bite of an infected mosquito and can be deadly, with a 33% fatality rate in humans. Eastern Equine Encephalitis, or EEE, has been diagnosed in four ruffed grouse in the Upper Peninsula over the past few ...

The meaning of leadership

The word leadership carries different meanings for different people. For most athletes, leaders are coaches or typically older, more experienced teammates, those who have been “around the block” and seem some things. Those who have a good idea of what to do in a crisis situation. Those same values, experience, willingness to act, and more, are markers of whom employees look to for leadership in the working world. In politics, we look up to those who speak like we do, think like we do, and share our value systems, since that is who we would prefer lead us. Last Thursday, we at ...

Protest exposes Line 5 security risk

The protest at a Line 5 pumping station in Michigan’s Thumb appears to have been frivolous — a dozen or so young activists mostly hanging out in a parking lot listening to music — but it exposes serious security risks for the petroleum pipeline. A group calling itself “Up Hell’s Creek Camp” descended on the pumping station and were left alone there for more than an hour by both the operator, Enbridge Inc., and local authorities in Tuscola County. One of the group shimmied under a locked, chain-link gate with a pipe wrench, which he applied to a fixture that may or may not ...

We need to brake hard on pedestrian-car crashes

Our cars are full of distractions — we can cash a check while waiting for a light to turn, convene a work meeting on the straightaway, and watch our own progress on a map while the kids enjoy a movie in the backseat. The world along the road is equally in motion. Cars brake, swerve, stop. Litter and leaves blow. Creatures — including humans — dart, jog, walk in and along the road. Sometimes, drivers can’t stop in time to prevent a collision. On Tuesday, a 7-year-old child was hit while running across the street to the bus stop. His injuries were slight, thankfully. But a ...

Nation poised to start vaccinating kids in large numbers

The country awoke Wednesday morning to some very good news. Children ages 5 to 11 will soon be able to get a COVID-19 shot at their pediatrician’s office, local pharmacy and potentially even their school, the White House said Wednesday as it detailed plans for the expected authorization of the Pfizer shot for younger children in a matter of weeks, the Associated Press reported. Federal regulators will meet over the next two weeks to weigh the benefits of giving shots to kids, after lengthy studies meant to ensure the safety of the vaccines. Within hours of formal approval, expected ...